This year’s JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion is set to be the biggest and most challenging in the event’s history as it restores Wales onto the European rallying calendar for the first time in 28 years.

Rali Ceredigion has quickly grown into one of the biggest events on the British motorsport scene, with the Aberystwyth-based event held on August 30 to September 1st counting as the UK’s round of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) for the first time this season.

Competing in state-of-the-art Rally2 cars, the ERC’s best will battle for glory against the UK’s homegrown stars from the Probite British Rally Championship as the event welcomes the very best drivers and teams from across UK, Ireland and Europe to mid Wales.

They will all take on the longest and most diverse route yet, as the rally’s 183km of competitive special stages will visit the neighbouring Carmarthenshire and Powys counties as well as Ceredigion.

MORE NEWS:

The rally officially begins with two now traditional runs through the Aberystwyth town centre stage, which has been lengthened from last year and offers brilliant spectating views and access for fans.

Saturday’s second leg comprises of eight stages with two brand-new tests, Brechfa and Llyn Brianne, joining the billing alongside the familiar Nant y Moch and Aberystwyth, which will again be repeated twice that evening to round off the action.

The Llyn Brianne test is the longest of the event, starting in Powys before skirting the famous reservoir it is named after.

County Times:

Machynlleth’s Osian Pryce, British Rally Champion and two-time Rali Ceredigion winner, said: “The calendar has been missing something with such big status since Wales Rally GB last ran five years ago, so it’s great to have Rali Ceredigion as part of the European Rally Championship.

"It’s an exciting prospect for everyone, but particularly myself as a local driver who’s had some good success on the event in the past.”